Ahmadinejad gives Bush a long lecture on Christian values

By Michael Slackman in Cairo

May 11, 2006 — 10.00am

WITH the tone of a teacher and the certainty of a believer, the President of Iran's recent letter to his US counterpart says Western democracy has failed and that the invasion of Iraq, US treatment of prisoners and support for Israel cannot be reconciled with Christian values.

Locked in a conflict with the West over Iran's nuclear program, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad made the observations in an 18-page letter delivered on Monday but made public only the following day.

Though the letter was dismissed by US officials as an irrelevant screed, some said it provided an interesting window into the mindset in Tehran.

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While the letter laid out a list of policy disputes with the US, it was also personal, urging President George Bush, who has been very public about his religious conviction, to examine his actions in the light of Christian values.

"We increasingly see that people around the world are flocking towards a main focal point that is the Almighty God," Mr Ahmadinejad wrote. "Undoubtedly through faith in God and the teaching of the prophets, the people will conquer their problems. My question to you is: 'Do you want to join them?"'

The wide-ranging letter was framed entirely in religious terms but also laid out a populist manifesto of anti-Americanism, offering a case-by-case illustration of what has given the Iranian President a following among many people throughout the Middle East. He presented himself as the defender not only of Muslims, but of all oppressed people, including those in Africa and Latin America.

But his primary focus was on religious principles central to Shiite Islam, specifically the concept of a just ruler and the fight against oppression. With a respectful - if superior - tone, he used a question and answer style to lay out a case for US hypocrisy.

He seemed to try to shame Mr Bush when he asked: "Are you pleased with the current condition of the world? Do you think present policies can continue?"

The letter focused repeatedly on religion and the notion that America is a sinner.

"My basic question is this: Is there no better way to interact with the rest of the world? Today there are hundreds of millions of Christians, hundreds of millions of Muslims, and millions of people who follow the teachings of Moses. All divine religions share and respect one word, and that is monotheism, or belief in a single God and no other in the world."

While it offered no specific proposal, the letter did seek to identify a common ground for starting discussions based on the principles of monotheism.

"It would be a big mistake if the United States dismissed it or if they only consider it as a philosophical, religious, historical letter," Nasser Hadian, a political science professor at Tehran University, said. "It would be a good idea if President Bush responds to it. It can open up some space."